Surgical fixation system, spacer element for a surgical fixation system, use of an implant and method for stabilizing spinous processes

Abstract

A surgical fixation system for stabilizing spinous processes of adjacent vertebral bodies relative to one another comprising at least one first fixing element and at least one second fixing element, which can be transferred relative to one another from an insertion position into an implantation position, wherein the fixing elements in the implantation position have a smaller spacing from one another than in the insertion position and in which implantation position the fixing elements are engageable laterally from different sides with at least one of the spinous processes in each case, and comprising a securing device for securing the fixing elements relative to one another in the implantation position and comprising at least one spacer element, which can be fixed by the fixing elements in the implantation position thereof in the intervertebral space between the spinous processes.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A surgical fixation system for stabilizing spinous processes of adjacent vertebral bodies relative to one another, comprising at least one first fixing element and at least one second fixing element, which are transferable relative to one another from an insertion position into an implantation position, wherein the fixing elements in the implantation position have a smaller spacing from one another than in the insertion position and in which implantation position the fixing elements are engageable laterally from different sides with at least one of the spinous processes in each case, and comprising a securing device for securing the fixing elements relative to one another in the implantation position and comprising at least one spacer element, which is fixable by the fixing elements in the implantation position thereof in the intervertebral space between the spinous processes. 
     
     
         2 . The fixation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spacer element is fixable in positively-locking and/or force-locking manner. 
     
     
         3 . The fixation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spacer element is fixable by clamping. 
     
     
         4 . The fixation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spacer element engages or is engageable with at least one fixing element in the implantation position. 
     
     
         5 . The fixation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spacer element comprises or forms an anterior contact face for at least one vertebral body, in particular at least one lamina arcus vertebrae. 
     
     
         6 . The fixation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spacer element is deformable. 
     
     
         7 . The fixation system according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one spacer element is resiliently deformable. 
     
     
         8 . The fixation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spacer element is variable in size. 
     
     
         9 . The fixation system according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one spacer element comprises an adjusting device, for varying the size of the at least one spacer element. 
     
     
         10 . The fixation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spacer element is lattice-shaped. 
     
     
         11 . The fixation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spacer element is bellows-like. 
     
     
         12 . The fixation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spacer element comprises at least one engagement element for an engagement of the at least one spacer element with a further spacer element. 
     
     
         13 . The fixation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fixation system comprises two or more spacer elements. 
     
     
         14 . The fixation system according to  claim 13 , wherein the two or more spacer elements are identical. 
     
     
         15 . The fixation system according to  claim 13 , wherein the two or more spacer elements are different. 
     
     
         16 . The fixation system according to  claim 13 , wherein the two or more spacer elements abut against one another. 
     
     
         17 . The fixation system according to  claim 13 , wherein two or more spacer elements engage with one another. 
     
     
         18 . The fixation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spacer element is resorbable. 
     
     
         19 . The fixation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spacer element is made at least partially from an osteointegrative material or is osteointegratively coated, is made from metal, is made from a plastics material, is made from a bone material, is made from a bone replacement material, is at least partially coated or is coated with high-purity titanium powder forming a rough microporous titanium layer 
     
     
         20 . The fixation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spacer element is engaged or engageable with the securing device. 
     
     
         21 . The fixation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spacer element comprises three portions, wherein a first portion is configured to be positioned in the intervertebral space, and a second portion and third portion are arranged anterior to the first portion and project laterally from the first portion on opposite sides thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The fixation system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one fixing element comprises projections to engage with at least one spinous process. 
     
     
         23 . The fixation system according to  claim 22 , wherein the projections enclose an acute angle with a plane defined by the fixing element. 
     
     
         24 . The fixation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the securing device is a latching device. 
     
     
         25 . The fixation system according to  claim 24 , wherein the latching device comprises at least on latching element that engages through the at least one spacer element or engages therewith. 
     
     
         26 . A method for stabilizing spinous processes of adjacent vertebral bodies relative to one another, in which a sternal closure device described in the document DE 103 26 690 B4 or a fixing device described in the document DE 10 2006 021 025 B3 is used to stabilize the spinous processes, with at least one spacer element being positioned between two fixing elements of the fixing system in the intervertebral space between the spinous processes.